Quiz: Howstuffworks

True or False: EMT Tools Identification Edition

Talin Vartanian

Image: Wiki Commons by Airman 1st Class Kyle Russell

About This Quiz

From shears and ring cutters to pen lights and stethoscopes, EMT personnel are trained to utilize a variety of tools to help patients in distress. A whole variety of drastic situations can be solved with the expertise of EMT and their applicable tools and equipment.

Some of these tools may be well-known to you, such as eye cups, blood pressure cuffs and thermometers. Other tools, like heamogulcometers and telemetry monitors, may sound foreign, but are essential to measuring specific vitals of a patient. The heamogulcometer for instance, is used to read the blood glucose levels of a patient. A telemetry monitor, on the other hand, is used to measure the heart activity of a patient.

These tools may be a piece of cake to use by EMT personnel, but can you identify some of them? Think you know the difference between a trauma dressing and a vital signs monitor? Or how about the difference between a neck brace and a spinal board? It's time to take the True or False: EMT Tools Identification Edition quiz now to find out!

Frolicsomepl/Pixabay

Stethoscopes are used to check the pupil response of a patient.

True

False

False. Stethoscopes are used to hear lung and heart sounds for an accurate diagnosis. The cost of a stethoscope varies from under $100 to several hundred dollars.

YouTube by ReviewOutdoorGear

Pupil responses can be checked by using a pen light.

True

False

True. A pen light is used to check the response of pupils through light. This can tell the EMT personnel if the patient is having a stroke or if they may be experiencing a side effect from a drug.

YouTube by Cool Tools

Trauma shears are used to quickly cut through clothing to find wounds or other potential problems.

True

False

True. Trauma shears can cut through various fabrics quickly and accurately. Some also have a ruler attached to the blades.

YouTube by CederrothFirstAid

An eye cup is used to wash out the eyes if potential hazards have gotten into them.

True

False

True. Eye cups are small cups that are used to wash out the eyes. The eye cup is typically filled with water or a safe solution and is held tightly over the patient's opened eye for effective washing.

Wiki Commons by Auckland Museum

A ring cutter is used to accurately measure time.

True

False

False. A wristwatch is used to measure things like time of death, while a ring cutter is used to cut through jewelry. The ring cutter poses no threat to the patient during the jewelery-cutting process.

YouTube by ReadyMan

An eye magnet is used to dress a wound.

True

False

False. Bandages are typically used to dress wounds, while an eye magnet is used to safely and effectively remove small objects from the eye. These are often small and stainless steel in material.

YouTube by Cool Tools

A window punch is used to safely break a window.

True

False

True. Window punches are used to break windows, and look like a small pen with a steel tip on the end. The handle is also adjustable for ease of use.

Wiki Commons by lis-h

A seat belt can be cut using a Lifesaver Hammer.

True

False

True. A Lifesaver Hammer is an all-purpose tool that can cut seat belts and shatter windows. Some even come with a flashlight and a whistle.

Wiki Commons by Karl Gruber

A Rescue Tool is used to measure the heart rate of a patient.

True

False

False. A Rescue Tool has multiple uses, one of which is to break through safety glass. Though it can't measure heart rate, it can shut off safety valves and open locked doors and windows.

YouTube by BlueJFilms

A CPR Board is used to draw materials out of the lungs.

True

False

False. A CPR Board is a flat surface for a patient who is about to undergo CPR. This will allow for effective CPR compressions.

Counselling/Pixabay

If a patient's eye is injured, an eye pad can be used to protect the eye and prevent any infections.

True

False

True! Eye pads are made from a nonwoven fabric to prevent infections to an injured eye. These also have edges that are compressed, and usually come in individual packages for sterile purposes.

Wiki Commons by Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

A waste bag is where you put items to return to patients later.

True

False

False. A waste bag is used to hold hazardous materials that need to be disposed. This may include used gauze or clothes that can't be returned.

Wiki Commons by Graham Harrison, MoD

A face shield is used to protect an EMT's face from potential infections.

True

False

True. A face shield covers the majority of the face, typically leaving the eyes and forehead exposed. This allows the EMT to work safely when being exposed to infections.

Wiki Commons by Saltanat Ebli

Forceps are used for precise removal of materials in the body, such as bullets.

True

False

True. Forceps are a popular tool that is used for bullet removal. These are often shaped like tweezers with a strong grip.

YouTube by Maggie Pippy

Bandage scissors can easily cut through bandages.

True

False

True. Bandage scissors are useful for cutting through an old bandage, or removing excess bandage from a newly-dressed wound. They are made of stainless steel.

Wiki Commons by Rama

A CPR Mask automatically pumps air into a patient's lungs.

True

False

False. A CPR mask is used to effectively perform CPR to a patient. The mask is placed over the patient's nose and mouth while the EMT breathes air in through the valve. It does not work automatically, however. Someone has to administer the breathing.

Wiki Commons by Anatoliy Smaga

An AED is used to breathe air into a patient.

True

False

False. An AED is used to transfer electric shocks to a patient who is experiencing cardiac arrest. It can also measure the heart rhythm of a patient.

Wiki Commons by Intermedichbo

A BVM is used to give proper pressure ventilation to a patient.

True

False

True. Otherwise known as a bag valve mask, a BVM looks similar to a CPR mask, except it has an inflatable "bag" attached to it. Ample oxygen tubing is also provided with each BVM.

YouTube by Playeroflife

A holster is used to hold essential EMT tools together.

True

False

True. EMTs need a place to store their tools on their bodies, so a holster will typically do the trick. These are often small and can hold shears, pen lights and other tools.

YouTube by McLean County Area EMS System

A nasal cannula is used to transfer oxygen to a patient through their nostrils.

True

False

True. A nasal cannula has tubes that go through the patient's nostrils to deliver adequate oxygen flow. These are often used if a patient disapproves of an oxygen mask over the face.

YouTube by HealthONE EMS

A traction splint is used to dress wounds.

True

False

False. A traction splint is used to hold a leg in place for treatment or diagnosis. Straps attach over the patient's legs to secure them in place.

HeungSoon/Pixabay

Sterile gauze looks like small pieces of cloth that are used over cuts and blisters.

True

False

True. Sterile gauzes cover a variety of skin abrasions, such as cuts, scrapes and blisters. Oxygen can still seep through the gauze to promote healing.

YouTube by Primacare Medical Supplies

A burn sheet is used to put out fires.

True

False

False. A sterile burn sheet is essentially a blanket that features durable material. This specialized blanket is used to prevent infections for burn patients.

Klbz/Pixabay

Saline solution is used to clean out cuts and abrasions.

True

False

True. To prevent infection, EMTs will often treat abrasions with a saline solution. The solution is a mixture of water and salt.

Wiki Commons by Capt. Paul Greenberg

A triangular bandage acts as a blanket to prevent infections.

True

False

False. A triangular bandage acts as an arm sling for patients with a damaged arm. These bandages can also be used to hold a damaged joint in place.

A patient's blood pressure can be measured by using a blood pressure cuff.

True

False

True. A blood pressure cuff is used to determine blood pressure readings of a patient. The cuffs also have an attached stethoscope to them.

Wiki Commons by James Heilman, MD

Oral Glucose is used to wash out the eyes.

True

False

False. Oral Glucose is used to raise the blood sugar of a diabetes patient. This typically takes several minutes to work.

Wiki Commons by Praewnaaaaaam

EMTs will often use medical gloves to avoid cross-contamination with a patient.

True

False

True. Medical gloves can be either sterile or non-sterile. The gloves act as a barrier between the EMT and the patient to decrease the risk of cross-contamination.

Guvo59/Pixabay

Thermometers are used to treat fevers.

True

False

False. Thermometers are used to check a patient's temperature. This often takes a few short minutes. The data can help EMTs determine treatment, but thermometers themselves are not a treatment.

Wiki Commons by ICUnurses

Oxygen in the body can be measured using a pulse oximeter.

True

False

True. Pulse oximeters are used to check the oxygen levels in the human body. This causes no harm to the patient.

Bokskapet/Pixabay

Telemetry monitors are used to measure a patient's blood pressure.

True

False

False. Telemetry monitors are used to check the heart's activity over a certain amount of time. A patient's heartbeat is controlled using electrical signals just like an EKG.

Wiki Commons by Kalumet

A vital signs monitor is used to check a patient's vitals.

True

False

True. A vital signs monitor measures vitals like temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. All of these readings appear on a single screen.

Wiki Commons by Michael Marx

A neck brace is used to hold a person's neck in place.

True

False

A neck brace immobilizes a potentially damaged neck. This is also called a cervical collar.

YouTube by CPR Savers & First Aid Supply, LLC

A head immobilizer is used to hold a patient's head in place.

True

False

True. Head immobilizers contain dual head supports that are foam in material. A patient's head is placed between the head supports for efficient immobilization.

Wiki Commons by Michael Hillmann

Transport incubators are primarily used to retrieve bullet shards from a patient.

True

False

False. Transport incubators are actually used to hold infants safely for transportation. Infants are secured in a dome-shaped incubator that is attached to elongated wheels.

Wiki Commons by US National Archives

A trauma dressing is used to protect wounds.

True

False

True. Trauma dressings come in many different sizes, and are typically used to protect cuts, wounds and abrasions. These types of dressings are great for absorbing light to moderate amounts of blood.

Yourschantz/Pixabay

A bite stick is used to open up the airway for patients who are having a seizure.

True

False

True! When someone is having a seizure, an EMT personnel will often place a bite stick into the patient's mouth as a tongue depressant. This allows for the patient to breathe properly while they are having a seizure.

Wiki Commons by Radim Holiš

A spinal board is primarily used for patients with spinal injuries.

True

False

True. A spinal board looks like a long surf board that securely holds a patient in place. The secure straps allow for minimal damage to a person's spine.

Stanias/Pixabay

A glucometer is used to transport patients safely to the hospital.

True

False

False. A glucometer is used to accurately read the levels of a patient's blood glucose. This device often entails a finger prick to draw blood from the patient for efficient readings.

Wiki Commons by Onthost

A KED is used to safely help people who were involved in motor vehicle accidents.

True

False

True. A KED is a brace that is used on the neck, torso and head. This is also called a Kendrick Extrication Device.

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